There are calls for the Home Secretary to intervene in a police race row following claims that at least 20 forces tried to block an inquiry into discrimination against ethnic minority officers.
The National Association of Muslim Police Officers says almost half of the 43 forces asked about the treatment of black, asian and muslim staff failed to provide answers.
In a letter addressed to Jacqui Smith, the organisation warns it will lodge a freedom of information request to demand the details if she does not help.
Zaheer Ahmad, president of the association, says it suggests routine racial harassment.
Referring to 10 years since the inquiry into the murder of Stephen Lawrence found the Metropolitan Police to be 'institutionally racist', an association spokesman said its audit revealed: "we still do not have the level of diversity that the public rightly expects."